Method and apparatus for aesthetic skin treatments

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for aesthetic manipulation of the skin having a large pulsator with plurality of light emitting diodes of at least two different wavelengths and a small pulsator with one light emitting diode. A frequency modulating means automatically modulates the emitting frequency of the light emitting diodes to a plurality of different frequencies. A power output modulating means modulates the power output of the light emitting diodes. A phase switching means allows selection between a plurality of operating phases, each operating phase operating the frequency modulating means and power output modulating means in a different predetermined manner. Calibration means connected in circuit with the light emitting diodes calibrates the power output of the light emitting diodes. A vibration means vibrates the large pulsator. A vibration switching means selectively activates the vibration means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The claimed invention generally relates to devices for aestheticmanipulation of the skin. More specifically, the claimed inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for aesthetic manipulation of the skinaccomplished by modulation of the frequency, wavelength and output oflight emitting diodes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As segments of the population, such as the “baby boomer” generation, getolder, the market for products that help reduce the signs of aging hasdrastically increased. One of the major areas of concern for many peopleis the reduction of wrinkles in facial skin. Many different types offacial creams have been developed over the years that claim to reducewrinkling of the skin, but people have still sought better ways ofaddressing the problem. One of the newer approaches even includesinjecting a form of botulism under the skin to smooth out wrinkles.However, people still seek new products that provide improved resultswith as little cost, time and pain involved as possible.

There also have been several different devices developed to address theproblem of reducing wrinkles in the skin. The following briefdescriptions of previously issued United States Patents provide arepresentation of the devices in the prior art that have been created toaddress the problem of reducing wrinkles in the skin.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,373 issued to Vogel discloses a facial ironer forheating a subject's skin after an emollient has been previously applied.A heating element transfers heat to a soleplate that is manipulated overthe skin providing a facial treatment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,949 issued to Kim discloses a heated massage therapydevice having a hand-held housing, a mechanical vibration generatordisposed within the housing and at least one source of infraredradiation disposed within the housing. The heated massage therapy deviceprovides a thermally efficient and effective means of applying infraredradiation in combination with mechanical vibration to selected portionsof a user's anatomy.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,482 issued to Everett discloses a hand-held, selfcontained irradiator powered by batteries. The applicator end providesmany diodes that emit electromagnetic radiation in the visible and/orinfrared portions of the spectrum. A series of switches are provided sothat the user may select which one or ones of the diodes to activate toprovide particular wavelengths or colors of radiation to be emitted fromthe applicator end to be used to treat particular body surface areas forthe relief of pain or other problems.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,497 issued to Anderson discloses a method fortreating wrinkles in skin involving the use of a beam of pulsed, scannedor gated continuous wave laser or incoherent radiation. The methodcomprises generating a beam of radiation, directing the beam ofradiation to a targeted dermal region between 100 microns and 1.2millimeters below a wrinkle in the skin, and thermally injuring collagenin the targeted dermal region.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,397 issued to Gebhard discloses a facial ironcomprising a heating element and separate charging base. The facial ironheating element has a spoon shaped heating surface for applying heat toa users skin.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,915 issued to Hwang discloses a control method anddevice of a portable beautifying apparatus. The method and device usegalvanic ion current, far infrared ray, and vibration to beautify thehuman skin.

While some of these devices discussed may provide a certain amount ofnoticeable results in reduction of wrinkles of the skin, there stillremains a need for a non-invasive apparatus that produces improvedwrinkle reduction in the skin. To answer this need, the claimedinvention provides a method for aesthetic skin treatments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To satisfy the need for an apparatus that reduces the appearance ofwrinkles in the skin, the claimed invention provides a method foraesthetic skin treatments. It has been previously known that placingLEDs emitting light of differing wavelengths adjacent the skin of asubject can provide beneficial results to the subject. However, varyingthe wavelength of the light alone and maintaining other characteristicsof the light emitted by the LEDs unchanged produces minimal results. Thewavelengths of the LEDs employed in the claimed invention are used ascarriers to transfer modulation of the emitting frequency and poweroutput of the LEDs to provide an aesthetic skin treatment to the skin.

A primary object of the claimed invention is to provide a new method foraesthetic skin treatments that provides improved results over previousdevices.

Another object of the claimed invention is to provide a new method ofaesthetically treating the skin that does not require a medicalprofessional to perform the method.

A further object of the claimed invention is to provide an apparatusthat modulates the emitting frequency of an electrical light sourceduring an aesthetic skin treatment.

An even further object of the claimed invention is to provide a methodthat modulates the power output of an electrical light source during anaesthetic skin treatment.

To accomplish these objects as well as others that will become apparentafter reading this specification and viewing the appended drawings, anew method for aesthetic skin treatments is provided. The preferredmethod generally involves the use of a device comprising a controlconsole, a large pulsator having a plurality of light emitting diodes(LEDs) and a small pulsator having a single LED. The term pulsator isbeing used to denote a probe or applicator that conveys pulsated lightfrom the LEDs within the large pulsator and small pulsator.

The control console generally comprises a session timer display withcontrols, a massage control, a small pulsator control, a pause control,a large pulsator control, a Phase I control, a Phase II control and aPhase III control. The session timer has a two digit LED timer displaycontrolled by two timer select controls that are provided for anoperator to set the number of minutes that a particular session willlast. The massage control 70 allows an operator to activate a vibrationmeans within the large pulsator to provide a massaging action to thesubject's skin when the large pulsator is being used.

The small pulsator has a single 625 nm wavelength LED at 40 mW centrallylocated at the tip that is powered by a power supply cord removablyconnected to the control console. The small pulsator is used inapplications where the area of skin that is targeted for aesthetic skintreatment is small. The tip of the small pulsator is preferably coveredwith a sanitary cover.

The large pulsator and vibration means are supplied power by a powersupply cord that is removably connected to the control console. Thelarge pulsator has a head with 12 radially spaced 940 nm wavelength LEDsat 20 mW about the head and a 625 nm wavelength LED at 160 mW is locatedat the center of the head. The large pulsator is used in applicationwhere a general area of skin is targeted for aesthetic skin treatment.The head of the large pulsator is preferably covered with a sanitarycover.

The circuitry within the control console provides a frequency modulatingmeans and a power output modulating means that control the emittingfrequency and power output of the LEDs within the large pulsator andsmall pulsator. An operator of the apparatus can choose among threephases where the emitting frequency and power output of the LEDs arevaried for different periods of time to achieve certain desired results.The modulation of the emitting frequency and power output of the LEDsprovide a pulsating effect that manipulates the skin of a subject beingtreated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for aesthetic skintreatments.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the large pulsator and sanitarycover.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the head of the large pulsator.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the small pulsator and sanitarycover.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the control console of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 shows how the large pulsator is used.

FIG. 7 shows how the small pulsator is used.

FIG. 8 shows a diagram of the control circuitry of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment ofthe apparatus 10 for aesthetic skin treatments. The preferred embodimentof the apparatus 10 generally comprises a control console 20, a largepulsator 30 having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and asmall pulsator 40 having a single LED.

FIG. 5 shows that the control console 20 generally comprises a sessiontimer display 50 with controls 60, a massage control 70, a smallpulsator control 80, a pause control 90, a large pulsator control 100, aPhase I control 110, a Phase II control 120, a Phase III control 130 anda power switch control (not shown). Each control has an LED adjacent thecontrol that provides a visual indication as to the status of theparticular control. The control console 20 may optionally have a unitlock key switch (not shown) to prevent unauthorized use of the apparatus10. FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the circuitry 135 that is containedwithin the control console housing 140 and is controlled by amicrocontroller 150. Power is supplied to the circuitry 135 asunregulated 12 volts DC derived from either a battery or from aconventional unregulated AC/DC power supply.

The session timer has a two digit LED timer display 50 controlled by twotimer select controls 60 that are provided for an operator to set thenumber of minutes that a particular session will last. An audible alarm160 is also provided that can be programmed to notify the operator of apredetermined time interval, signaling that the operator shouldreposition the pulsator to a different portion of the skin targeted foraesthetic treatment to assist the operator in applying an even aestheticskin treatment to a subject. Preferably, the audible alarm is programmedto beep every 10 seconds during use of the large pulsator and every 18seconds during the use of the small pulsator. However, themicrocontroller can be programmed to allow an operator of the apparatus10 to change the audible alarm time intervals to meet particular needs.FIG. 8 shows how the session timer 50 and audible alarm 160 areconnected in the circuitry 135 contained within the control consolehousing 140.

The massage control 70 allows an operator to selectively activate avibration means 170 within the large pulsator 30 to provide a massagingaction to the subject's skin when the large pulsator 30 is being used.FIG. 8 shows how the massage control 70 is connected in the circuitry135 contained within the control console housing 140 and to thevibration means 170 in the large pulsator 30.

The small pulsator 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 is controlled by the smallpulsator control 80 that allows an operator to selectively activate thesmall pulsator 40 for use during a session. The small pulsator 40 has asingle 625 nm wavelength LED at 40 mW 180 centrally located at the tip190 that is powered by a power supply cord 195 removably connected tothe control console 20 as shown in FIG. 1. The circuitry 135 within thecontrol console housing 140 provides a calibration driver 200 that workswith a calibration resistor 210 within the small pulsator 40 tocalibrate the output of the small pulsator 40 to compensate forvariation in LEDs used in the small pulsator 40 from unit to unit toensure consistent operation of the apparatus 10. FIG. 8 shows how thesmall pulsator 40, small pulsator control 80 and calibration driver 200are connected in the circuitry 135 contained within the control consolehousing 140.

The pause control 90 allows an operator to selectively temporarily pausea session, stopping the session timer 50 and turning off the largepulsator 30 and small pulsator 40. FIG. 8 shows how the pause control 90is connected in the circuitry 135 contained within the control consolehousing 140.

The large pulsator 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 is controlled by the largepulsator control 100 that allows an operator to selectively activate thelarge pulsator 30 for use during a session. The large pulsator 30 andvibration means 170 are supplied power by a power supply cord 220 thatis removably connected to the control console 20 as shown in FIG. 1.FIG. 3 shows that the large pulsator 30 has a head 230 with 12 radiallyspaced 940 nm wavelength LEDs at 20 mW 240 about the head and a 625 nmwavelength LED at 160 mW 250 is located at the center of the head 230.The head is designed as a heat sink to dissipate heat away from the LEDs240 and 250. The large pulsator 30 employs culminating and diffusinglens 255 with the center LED 250 to direct the light emitted from thecenter LED 250. The circuitry 135 within the control console housing 140provides a calibration driver 260 that works with a calibration resistor270 within the large pulsator 30 to calibrate the output of the largepulsator 30 to compensate for variation in LEDs used in the largepulsator 30 from unit to unit to ensure consistent operation of theapparatus 10. FIG. 8 shows how the large pulsator 30, large pulsatorcontrol 100 and calibration driver 260 are connected in the circuitry135 contained within the control console housing 140.

The circuitry 135 within the control console housing 140 provides afrequency modulating means and a power output modulating means thatcontrol the emitting frequency and power output of the LEDs within thelarge pulsator 30 and small pulsator 40. The Phase controls 110-130modulate the emitting frequency of the LEDs in the small pulsator 40 andlarge pulsator 30 for different time intervals at the followingfrequencies:

Phase I 73 Hertz for 1 second, 292 Hertz for 1 second, and 584 Hertz forone second.Phase II 73 Hertz for 2 seconds, and 584 Hertz for 1 second.Phase III 73 Hertz for 4 seconds, and 584 Hertz for 1 second.

The Phase controls 110-130 also modulate the power output of the LEDs inthe large pulsator 30 and small pulsator 40 to the following radiantlight levels at the surface of the skin:

Large Pulsator Small Pulsator Phase I 60 mW/cm² 6 mW/cm² Phase II 70mW/cm² 7 mW/cm² Phase III 80 mW/cm² 8 mW/cm²

The apparatus 10 is used by first switching on the power switch to theapparatus 10. When power is initially provided to the apparatus 10, themicrocontroller 150 sets the apparatus 10 to Pause mode, the phasecontrols to phase I operation, the massage control 70 to off, and resetsthe session timer 50 to zero minutes. An operator then sets the variouscontrols on the control console 20 to their desired settings in order tocomplete an aesthetic skin treatment session by first setting thesession timer 50 to a desired session time interval. Next, the operatorwill select the phase control 110-130 desired for the particularsession. The Phase controls can be changed at any time during a sessionby pressing the appropriate control. The associated LED indicator willilluminate reflecting the phase status within the microcontroller 150with only one of the LED indicators being illuminated at a time. Duringoperation of the apparatus 10, the microcontroller 150 continuouslycycles through the emitting frequencies based upon the phase controlselection.

The operator then selects the desired pulsator control 80, 100 for theparticular session. If the large pulsator 30 is selected for a session,the operator has the option of selecting the massage control 70 toactivate the vibration means 170 within the large pulsator 30. Wheneither the large pulsator or the small pulsator is selected, the pauseLED will go out indicating that the pause control has been deactivated.

The small pulsator 40 is used as shown in FIG. 7 in applications wherethe area of skin that is targeted for aesthetic skin treatment is small.The tip 190 of the small pulsator 40 is preferably covered with asanitary cover 280 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 made of translucent plasticthat is disposed of after each treatment. The 625 nm wavelength of theLED is used as a carrier to deliver the modulated emitting frequency andpower output of the LED created by the frequency modulating means andthe power output modulating means. The modulation of the emittingfrequency and the power output of the LED works together to produce anaesthetic skin treatment when the small pulsator 40 is placed adjacent awrinkle in the skin of a subject.

The large pulsator 30 is used as shown in FIG. 6 in applications where ageneral area of skin is targeted for aesthetic skin treatment. The head230 of the large pulsator 30 is preferably covered with a sanitary cover290 as shown in FIG. 2 and 6 made of translucent plastic that isdisposed of after each treatment. The 940 nm wavelength of the radiallyspaced LEDs and the 625 nm wavelength of the centrally located LED areused as carriers to deliver the modulated emitting frequency an poweroutput of the LEDs created by the frequency modulating means and thepower output modulating means. The modulation of the emitting frequencyand power output of the LEDs work together to produce an aesthetic skintreatment when the large pulsator 30 is placed adjacent a wrinkle in theskin of a subject.

Although the invention has been described by reference to someembodiments it is not intended that the novel apparatus be limitedthereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included asfalling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure,the following claims and the appended drawings.

1-41. (canceled) 42: An apparatus for exposing human tissue to anelectrical light source emitting light with at least two differentwavelengths, the apparatus comprising: a modulator for modulating anemitting frequency and a power output of the electrical light source toaesthetically manipulate human tissue, the modulator automaticallymodulating the emitting frequency of the electrical light source to afirst emitting frequency and to a second emitting frequency, themodulator modulating the first emitting frequency for a first intervalof time and modulating the second emitting frequency for second intervalof time, wherein the first emitting frequency is different than thesecond emitting frequency, and wherein a first operating phase includesthe first time interval and the second time interval, and the modulatorautomatically modulating the emitting frequency of the electrical lightsource to a third emitting frequency and to a fourth emitting frequency,the modulator modulating the third emitting frequency for a thirdinterval of time and modulating the fourth emitting frequency for fourthinterval of time, wherein the third emitting frequency is different thanthe fourth emitting frequency, and wherein a second operating phaseincludes the third time interval and the fourth time interval; and aphase switcher for selecting between the first operating phase and thesecond operating phase, wherein the first operating phase is differentthan the second operating phase. 43: The apparatus of claim 42, furthercomprising a mobile hand held probe, wherein electrical light source islocated in the mobile hand held probe. 44: The apparatus of claim 42,further comprising a non-mobile panel, wherein electrical light sourceis located in the non-mobile panel. 45: The apparatus of claim 44,wherein the non-mobile panel comprises a plurality of light emittingdiodes. 46: The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the first emittingfrequency is in a range of about 50 Hz to about 100 Hz, and the secondemitting frequency is in a range of about 550 Hz to about 650 Hz. 47:The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the modulator modulates the poweroutput to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 toabout 75 mW/cm2. 48: The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the modulatormodulates the power output to a first power output ranging from about 55mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging fromabout 65 mW/cm2 to about 75 mW/cm2. 49: The apparatus of claim 45,further comprising a calibrator connected in circuit with the pluralityof light emitting diodes for calibrating the power output of the lightemitting diodes. 50: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the firstemitting frequency is in a range of about 50 Hz to about 100 Hz, and thesecond emitting frequency is in a range of about 550 Hz to about 650 Hz.51: The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the modulator modulates the poweroutput to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 toabout 75 mW/cm2. 52: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the modulatormodulates the power output to a first power output ranging from about 55mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging fromabout 65 mW/cm2 to about 75 mW/cm2. 53: The apparatus of claim 42,further comprising a wireless transmitter at the modulator fortransmitting modulated light signals to a wireless receiver at theelectrical light source. 54: The apparatus of claim 53, wherein thephase switcher is located at the electrical light source. 55: Theapparatus of claim 42, wherein the electrical light source emits lightat least one wavelength producing ultraviolet light. 56: The apparatusof claim 42, wherein the electrical light source emits light at leastone wavelength producing infrared light. 57: The apparatus of claim 42,wherein the first interval of time is equal to the second interval oftime. 58: The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first emittingfrequency is equal to the third emitting frequency. 59: The apparatus ofclaim 42, wherein the first operating phase and the second operatingphase provide an equal power output, wherein the equal power output isdelivered via at least one of different emitting frequencies anddifferent emitting frequency intervals. 60: The apparatus of claim 42,wherein the phase switcher automatically cycles through the firstoperating phase and the second operating phase. 61: The apparatus ofclaim 42, wherein the phase switcher automatically cycles through thefirst operating phase, the second operating phase, and a third operatingphase. 62: A method of exposing human tissue to light of at least twodifferent wavelengths, the method comprising: modulating a firstemitting frequency of the light for a first time interval; modulating asecond emitting frequency of the light for a second time interval,wherein the first emitting frequency is different than the secondemitting frequency, wherein the second time interval occurs subsequentto the first time interval, and wherein a first operating phase includesthe first time interval and the second time interval; modulating a thirdemitting frequency of the light for a third time interval; modulating afourth emitting frequency of the light for a fourth time interval,wherein the third emitting frequency is different than the fourthemitting frequency, wherein the fourth time interval occurs subsequentto the third time interval, and wherein a second operating phaseincludes the third time interval and the fourth time interval;modulating a power output of the light; and switching between the firstoperating phase and the second operating phase. 63: The method of claim62, wherein the first time interval is equal to the second timeinterval. 64: The method of claim 62, wherein the third time interval isequal to the fourth time interval. 65: The method of claim 62, whereinthe first emitting frequency is equal to the third emitting frequency.66: The method of claim 62, wherein the second emitting frequency isequal to the fourth emitting frequency. 67: The method of claim 62,wherein the second emitting frequency is equal to the third emittingfrequency. 68: The method of claim 62, further comprising modulating afifth emitting frequency of the light for a fifth time interval, whereinthe first operating phase further includes the fifth time interval. 69:The method of claim 62, wherein the switching between the firstoperating phase and the second operating phase occurs automatically. 70:The method of claim 62, further comprising switching between a thirdoperating phase and at least one of the first operating phase and thesecond operating phase. 71: The method of claim 62, wherein the firstemitting frequency is in a range of about 50 Hz to about 100 Hz, and thesecond emitting frequency is in a range of about 550 Hz to about 650 Hz.72: The method of claim 71, wherein the power output is modulated to afirst power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about 65 mW/cm2 andto a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 to about 75mW/cm2. 73: The method of claim 62, wherein the power output ismodulated to a first power output ranging from about 55 mW/cm2 to about65 mW/cm2 and to a second power output ranging from about 65 mW/cm2 toabout 75 mW/cm2. 74: The method of claim 62, wherein the power output ismodulated to a first power output in the first operating phase and to asecond power output in the second operating phase. 75: The method ofclaim 74, wherein the first power output is equal to the second poweroutput. 76: The method of claim 74, wherein the first power output has adifferent duty cycle than the second power output.